Sennheiser Ambeo Smart Headset vs iPhone 12PRO Stereo Sound Recording Test/Comparison

[@sjhorton1184]

One quick correction sort of, even though Sennhieser and Apogee never came out with the Andriod version, you CAN use the AMBEO Smart Headset with an andriod phone if you get a Lightning to USB adaptor. I recently bought a set to go with my newly purchased Pixel 4a and using an Anker Lightning to USB-C adaptor and a "voice" recording app that will record in stereo, I can make binaural recording just fine. My noise cancelling and ambient sound amplification functions also work. I also use it for phone calls - although the play button didn't seem to work for answering a call. I am recording at 48KHz/24 bit wave (WAV) format and am thrilled with the recording quality although you are absolutely correct that the level is low. I am NOT able to use the Apogee app that is intended for this headset, but am successfully using "Advanced Audio Recorder" app just fine. Those of you out there that are bummed because Sennhieser/Apogee and Samsung never got this done for the Andriod (and yes I know Andriod is not a Samsung app, but they were working to port this to thier phones) don't be dismayed and take a chance on these; you will very likely be very pleased. Under $80 US from Amazon currently, while supplies last as Sennhieser is not making these any longer. Pssound, LOVE your OB speakers and all your OB speaker videos. THANKS!

[@loferski]

SonicPresence SP15C Binaural USB Mic might be the better option for an Android phone.

[@johncrochet8508]

The sound location was very accurate with the aftermarket microphone.

[@dlfrestoration]

The aeroplane in the background was also cool.

[@pssound9749]

Yeah it came through really well! 💪🔊🔊

[@RobertoGonzalez-in4to]

Very impressive the difference in detail and environmental precision ...

[@Infinixmx]

hello, what's up, I just bought them, they're great, but the bass is distorted in the recording and I'm recording a system with a 10" subwoofer, did it happen to you? how did you solve it? I already did some tests by attenuating the serious in the eq that the application brings, but it still doesn't sound like in your videos!! thanks for the answer (Disculpa el ingles, pero me estoy ayudando con el traductor google 😅)

[@pssound9749]

Hi, yes, this mic doesn’t like high bass levels and overall loud listening levels. My videos sound okay as i try to stay below the threshold of distortion.

[@Infinixmx]

@@pssound9749 Yes, thank you very much, I am doing tests and I just had to attenuate the level of the sub and volume of the main unit so that it does not distort with the mic, thank you very much and we are still waiting for how the focus ST500 turns out, greetings from Mexico City

[@attilaharcsa134]

I believe if you use the volume up the mic level goes up. Also 46 pound is cheap as fuck especially for a Sennheiser stuff when it came out it was about 170 pound.

[@recyclespacejunknow.aliens888]

Please do comparison between Sennheiser AMBEO vs. Apple spatial audio.

[@delicrux]

The balance on the iphone mics was strange the right side seemed like the snap was more midrange where the sennhieser felt well balanced.

[@ScottBier]

Thanks for this. How big are the file sizes? Do I need to empty my phone before I go record?

[@pssound9749]

Same size as recording without it.

[@BrotherTimothyClark]

I'm totally blind and listening on headphones, you could hear you snapping above your head through the headset and the iphones mics. I will grant that the headset was more dimensional sound wise however, the iphone did nock it out of the park. You should make a video of those birds with the iphone mic and then do it again with the sennheiser headset as a comparison. While not 3D, the iphone does a great job. Much better then I expected. Sense stereo is now available, one must ask if the sennheiser headset are even worth it. Also, you should be able to turn up the volume in the app for the headset.

[@pssound9749]

There’s no app on iPhone to turn the level up.

[@BrotherTimothyClark]

@@pssound9749 You can't turn that up in the Sennheiser app? ... Are you going to make a video of the stereo field of the iphone?

[@AndreaOttaviani1965]

I should only record binaural audio. No video. Which application can I use? Does Apple’s recorder record mono? Thanks for the review.

[@drstew1]

The air craft would of been good to hear… It sounds much louder on a Samsung galaxy phone. Just plug in and record. Vocal and video…

[@ilkkak3065]

Sound stage is little 2 dimensional If you close your eyes. Far left - center - far right are good but up and down gets little bit Lost. And not much depth. At least with my ear-plugs. Eyes open it's easier locate. And iPhone... It's all over... Do you still have XR? wonder if it had better mic...

[@pssound9749]

Previous was XS and the mic in that seemed to work slightly better. The mic in iPhone 7 was the most musical and least compressed, but that was mono. This test at least shows how much anyone can ever expect from a phone recording and how much attention we should pay to a music recording. Check the demo video that pops up at the end, that may show stage depth better.

[@ilkkak3065]

Worst demo recordings are those were bass is so loud that phone mic goes distortion all the time. Or that one were music was edited to video not played by cars system.

[@markjackson5247]

definitely better than the standard iPhone mic

[@benjiebarker]

You need to download the app to adjust volume

[@CoryShubert]

Question, the Ambeo app let's you record up to 9600Hz/24 but when you download or transfer to a computer, I am only seeing 4800Hz... is there a bug or some issue with getting the full recording quality to the computer? Thanks.

[@pssound9749]

I think you mean 96k/24 vs 48k, not 9600 & 4800.

[@CoryShubert]

@@pssound9749 duh, right, 96.0kHz and 48.0kHz... thanks for clarifying.

[@Cathul]

Can the Sennheiser be used with Audiotools from Studio Six Digital?

[@pssound9749]

Not sure, sorry.

[@devastation360]

Those pheasants won't survive in the Caribbean , looks like a good meal

[@pssound9749]

Hahaha i thought exactly the same! 😃

[@cuongbui2215]

The iphone is superior. Everything is perfectly centralized. Work on your click and stop wasting money 😆